TASHI FARMILO
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

BRYSON – Bryson will cut its municipal council from six to four members for the November 2 election, using new powers under Quebec’s Bill 57. The change, approved without public consultation, aims to address chronic recruitment issues in the village of fewer than 600 residents.

Mayor Alain Gagnon said Bryson has struggled for years to fill all six seats, with one candidate once stepping forward on the final day just to avoid a by-election. Passed in 2024, Bill 57 allows municipalities under 2,000 residents to adopt a smaller council if a by-law was passed by December 31 that year.

Bryson joins Fort-Coulonge and Rapides-des-Joachims in the Pontiac in adopting the model. Across Quebec, other small towns are considering similar changes. While some cite modest cost savings, Gagnon said the priority is sustainability and effective governance.

The current council will serve until its final meeting on October 1. Gagnon, mayor since 2013, is considering retirement, saying it may be time for new leadership. He noted that replacing Bryson’s aging underground water pipes should be a priority for the next council, as the system is more than 50 years old and prone to failures.